Time sounding-indicator



(No Model.)

T. SHAW.

TIME SOUNDING INDICATOR. No. 372,090. Patented 001;. 25, 1887.

qwi tmawao gvvmmto c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS SHAW, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TIME SOUNDING-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,090, dated October 25, 1887.

Application filed June 4, 1887. Serial No. 240,203. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS SHAW, of the city and county of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Soundin g Time-Indicator for Fractions of Time; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in the utilization of metallic shot caused to flow through a cylinder of hour-glass configuration upon a soundingplate connected with adiaphragm, all operating in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter described.

The object of the invention is to furnish audible time-indications for fractions of time, noticeable in dark mine-chambers, useful in signaling where fractions of time form an important part in the production of signals.

In order to enable others to use and practice my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The drawing represents a vertical section through center of time-indicator, constructed almost entirely of sheet-tin, consisting of two cones, a, united at their apex by ordinary screw metal ferrules, soldered at the tin and screwed upon a metallic nipple, b, which is provided with a central passage-way, for the purpose hereinafter explained. The base or outer ends of said cones a are provided with thin metallic disks 0, in the. center of which is soldered a wire stem, shown supporting a small metal disk, d, for the purpose hereinafter explained. A metallic disk, 6, is soldered to sides of cone to, and has an aperture in center for stem of disk d, for supporting the fallen shot, as hereinafter explained.

The indicator isoperated in this wise: More or less fine shot is placed in one of the cones, regulated by experiment for the number of seconds of time it is required to pass said shot through the central aperture, until it is adj nsted for any predetermined number of seconds. On placing the instrument in a vertical position with the shot in the upper chamber, the shot will fall on disk d, and will glance off and fall upon the floor-support e. The effect of said shot is to vibrate the disk cl, which in turn transmits the vibration to disk 0, causing a constant sound during the passage of the shot, giving audible indications of any period of time for which the instrument is set. The flooring 6 supports the fallen shot away from contact of disk 0 and prevents the same from interfering with the sound-vibrations of said disk.

This instrument is useful in dark mine'chambers where signals are sent pneumatically and require a certain number of seconds for the transmission. Each mine-chamber, differing in time, requires a separate instrument for each chamber of expeditious working.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A time-indicator for giving audible signals, consisting of a case having inclined sides leading to a contracted opening, a soundingplate situated at a distance from and below such opening, and shot contained in such case and adapted to pass through said opening and to fall upon said plate when the indicator is set in proper position, substantially as described.

2. A time-indicator for giving audible sig nals, consisting of a case of double-cone or hour-glass shape containing shot, and having sounding-plates placed opposite and at a distance from the contracted opening between the two cones, said plates being caused to vibrate and give forth sounds as the shot falls thereon, substantially as described.

3. A time-indicator for giving audible sig nals, consisting of a case having walls converging toward a contracted opening and containing shot, a plate below and at a distance from said opening, upon which the shot falls from said contracted opening, and adiaphragm connected with said plate to increase the audible effect of the vibrations caused by the falling shot, substantially as described.

4. A time-indicator for giving audible signals, consisting of a case having two chambers or portions connected by a contracted passageway and containing shot adapted to pass from onechamber to the other through said passageway, a plate, (1, situated in one of said chambers opposite to and at a distance from said opening, a support, 0, for the shot, and a diaphragm, a, connected with the plate by a rod passing freely through said support 6, substantially as described.

5. A time-indicator for giving audible sigthrough which said stems pass loosely, ar- 10 nals, consisting of a case of double-cone or ranged between said plates and diaphragms, hour-glass shape, having its ends covered by and shot arranged in said ease and arranged vibratory diaphragnis c, and the chambers l to pass from one cone to the other through formed by the two cone-shaped sections coni said opening, substantially as described.

nected by a contracted opening, plates d, THOMAS SHAJV. mounted opposite to and a distance from said opening and supported upon rods or stems connected with the diaphragms, floorings e,

WVitnesses:

J. LOGAN FITTs, WM. GARWOOD. 

